Portable miniaturized thermionic power cell with multiple regenerative layers

Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments may provide a portable power system for powering small devices that may be small, may be compact, may provide continuous power, and may be lightweight enough for an astronaut to carry. Various embodiments may provide a compact, thermionic-based cell that provides increased energy density and that more efficiently uses a heat source, such as a Pu-238 heat source. Nanometer scale emitters, spaced tightly together, in various embodiments convert a larger amount of heat into usable electricity than in current thermoelectric technology. The emitters of the various embodiments may be formed from various materials, such as copper (Cu), silicon (Si), silicon-germanium (SiGe), and lanthanides. Various embodiments may be added to regenerative thermionic cells with multiple layers to enhance the energy conversion efficiency of the regenerative thermionic cells.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION(S)[0001]This patent application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 643,292, filed on Mar. 15, 2018, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]The invention described herein was made in the performance of work under a NASA contract and by an employee of the United States Government and is subject to the provisions of Public Law 96-517 (35 U.S.C. § 202) and may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefore. In accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 202, the contractor elected not to retain title.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Astronauts with portable tools, rovers, and other deployable devices and systems require either imbedded batteries or cable connection to power source to function. Both methods require contact with a...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments may provide a portable power system for powering small devices that may be small, may be compact, may provide continuous power, and may be lightweight enough for an astronaut to carry. Various embodiments may provide a compact, thermionic-based cell that provides increased energy density and that more efficiently uses the heat source of an RTG, such as the Pu-238 heat source. Nanometer scale emitters, spaced tightly together, in various embodiments convert a larger amount of heat into usable electricity than in current thermoelectric technology. The emitters of the various embodiments may be formed from common materials, such as copper (Cu), silicon (Si), silicon-germanium (SiGe), and lanthanides, all easily fabricated to nanometer size in current Fin Field Effect Transistor (FinFET) complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) processes. Various embodiments may be added to regenerative thermionic cells with multiple layers to enhance the energy conversion efficiency of the regenerative thermionic cells.

Problems solved by technology

Batteries can meet some of those requirements, but do not meet the continuous power requirement.

However, no other choices are available but use of large, bulky, heavy, and costly radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) appears only an option regardless of enhancing capability and functionality of the probes.

Moreover, the conversion mechanism, thermoelectric (TE) generator, is very inefficient, only operating at approximately 7% efficiency, and RTGs require a large quantity (e.g., kilogram level) of plutonium-238 (Pu-238), a difficult and expensive materials to produce in large amounts.

Solar cells are unusable for deep space operations where light density is too low and the efficiency of solar cells is rather low, requiring impractically large flat panel arrays to harvest usable amounts of power.

Thus, solar cells are not suitable for powering astronaut systems and tools.

No continuous long-term operational, portable power system currently exists for powering small devices.

Batteries can meet some of those requirements, but do not meet the continuous power requirement.

Solar cells do not meet the continuous power requirement or the small, compact, and lightweight requirements.

The lack of the current existence of a continuous, portable power system for powering small devices limits both manned and unmanned space missions.

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